The Interplay Between Finasteride-Induced Androgen Imbalance, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Oxidative Stress, and Liver Disorders in Paternal and Filial Generation

October 2022 in “ Biomedicines ”

Sylwia Rzeszotek, Agnieszka Kolasa, Anna Pilutin, Kamila Misiakiewicz-Has, Katarzyna Sielatycka, Barbara Wiszniewska

finasteride androgen imbalance endoplasmic reticulum stress oxidative stress liver disorders androgen receptors unfolded protein response hyperglycemia hepatic glycogen accumulation Propecia ER stress UPR

Studysummary In this rat study, offspring from females fertilized by finasteride-treated males showed hyperglycemia and increased hepatic glycogen, linking paternal androgen imbalance to liver issues across generations.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The review investigates the transgenerational effects of finasteride-induced androgen imbalance on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, and liver disorders. It was found that finasteride treatment in male rats led to significant metabolic and cellular stress in their offspring, including hyperglycemia and increased hepatic glycogen accumulation. The study highlights the role of androgen receptors in regulating ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the liver, suggesting that these mechanisms could be potential therapeutic targets for liver diseases. The findings emphasize the need for further research into how finasteride and similar drugs may induce hereditary changes affecting offspring health.

View this study on mdpi.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

13 / 13 results

research Paternal Finasteride Treatment Can Influence the Testicular Transcriptome Profile of Male Offspring—Preliminary Study

1 citations , July 2021 in “Current Issues in Molecular Biology”

This study found that finasteride treatment of male rats led to changes in their male offspring's testicular gene expression, potentially affecting sperm function in response to odorant-like signals.

research Differential Gene Expression in Post-Finasteride Syndrome Patients

2 citations , July 2021 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

This study found significant differences in gene expression, particularly in androgen receptor activity, between men with post-finasteride syndrome and healthy controls, suggesting a potential biological basis for the syndrome.

The Postnatal Offspring of Finasteride-Treated Male Rats Shows Hyperglycemia, Elevated Hepatic Glycogen Storage, and Altered GLUT2, IR, and AR Expression in the Liver

research The Postnatal Offspring of Finasteride-Treated Male Rats Shows Hyperglycemia, Elevated Hepatic Glycogen Storage, and Altered GLUT2, IR, and AR Expression in the Liver

6 citations , January 2021 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”

This study suggests that finasteride treatment in male rats can lead to changes in liver carbohydrate metabolism and may result in metabolic disruptions and liver steatosis in their offspring.

research Post-Finasteride Syndrome: A Surmountable Challenge for Clinicians

30 citations , January 2020 in “Fertility and Sterility”

This review discusses the evidence for post-finasteride syndrome as a condition potentially induced by finasteride and dutasteride, associating them with sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in a subset of men, and reports no new clinical results.

research The Post-Finasteride Syndrome: Clinical Manifestation of Drug-Induced Epigenetics Due to Endocrine Disruption

8 citations , July 2018 in “Current Sexual Health Reports”

This review discusses post-finasteride syndrome, emphasizing its serious psychological and cognitive symptoms and the need for more research and awareness in the medical community, but provides no new clinical findings.

Protective Effect of DA-9401 in Finasteride-Induced Apoptosis in Rat Testis: Inositol Requiring Kinase 1 and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Pathway

research Protective Effect of DA-9401 in Finasteride-Induced Apoptosis in Rat Testis: Inositol Requiring Kinase 1 and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Pathway

18 citations , October 2017 in “Drug Design Development and Therapy”

The study found that finasteride increased endoplasmic reticulum stress and reduced fertility in rats, effects that were alleviated by the administration of DA-9401.

research The Mechanisms and Functions of Interorganelle Interactions

5 citations , March 2017 in “Molecular biology of the cell”

This article summarizes discussions from a minisymposium on organelle contact sites, highlighting new insights into their roles in cellular processes, but reports no novel experimental results.

research Sexual Side Effects of 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors Finasteride and Dutasteride: A Comprehensive Review

21 citations , January 2017 in “Dermatology Online Journal”

This review discusses the sexual side effects of finasteride and dutasteride, two 5-α-reductase inhibitors, and reports no new clinical findings while calling for further research into dosage differences.

research Emotional Consequences of Finasteride: Fool’s Gold

31 citations , February 2016 in “American Journal of Men's Health”

This study found that nearly half of men using finasteride reported clinically significant depression, highlighting the need for psychiatric screening and careful risk assessment by prescribing clinicians.

research Androgen Levels and Apoptosis in the Testis During Postnatal Development of Finasteride-Treated Male Rat Offspring

10 citations , September 2015 in “Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica”

This study found that paternal exposure to finasteride in male rats may impair fertility and affect androgen-sensitive spermatogenesis in their male offspring.

research Organic Causes of Erectile Dysfunction in Men Under 40

2152 citations , November 2013 in “Urologia Internationalis”

This study reviews the significant prevalence of organic etiologies, especially vascular causes, in erectile dysfunction among men under 40 and emphasizes thorough evaluation and consideration of treatment options like exercise and PDE-5 inhibitors.

research Finasteride-Associated Male Infertility

38 citations , December 2010 in “Fertility and Sterility”

In this case report, a male patient's semen parameters improved after discontinuing a 1-mg dose of finasteride, suggesting that stopping the medication may benefit infertile men with previous sperm production issues.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

581 citations , October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In male pattern hair loss, this study found that finasteride 1 mg daily significantly slowed hair loss and increased hair growth over two years compared to placebo.